I have an 02 Jetta TDI with 30,000 miles and love it.
LOVE the gas mileage and everyone can't believe VW makes Diesel cars. I was stopped once by a gas station attendant. He started yelling at me saying STOP STOP STOP!!!! YOU ARE PUTTING DIESEL FUEL IN YOUR CAR!!!! I was like DUH! It IS a diesel car. He felt dumb.
diesal produces a little to muich engine noise for my taste, not the good kind but the annoying school bus sound. i guess better gas mileage may balance this con out. also you have to find a station that carries diesal. i also dont like the sound of exhast systems on diesals. its all on personal taste